Quite like Masdar’s own terracotta buildings, the new Siemens building has been designed with an absolute commitment to sustainability. Using passive design and state of the art materials, the project maximizes energy efficiency and daylighting in order to keep its mechanical load down while mitigating excess solar gain to ensure the building stays cool. Naswer Al Marzooqi, Head of Facilities Management at Masdar, told us in an interview that the anticipated LEED Platinum rating addresses energy, while the Estidama Pearls acknowledge Siemens’ commitment to water conservation.

Siemens has featured prominently at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. For the first time, a CEO of a private firm was invited to speak at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) opening ceremony, an honor typically reserved for heads of state such as the Presidents of France and Argentina and royalty, such as Queen Rania from Jordan. Peter Löscher’s inclusion in the ceremony not only underscores the close bond between Masdar and Siemens, whose renewable energy projects account for 42% of the company’s overall portfolio, but also sends the message that corporate accountability will be crucial to addressing climate change.

Last night at the Zayed Future Energy Prize award ceremony held at the illustrious Emirates Palace Hotel, Siemens received formal recognition in the large corporation category for its holistic approach to renewable energy generation and sustainability. None of the $4 million prize distributed among winners goes to the company, but a little PR is worth its weight in gold. Even though Siemens has halted its solar energy program, the company continues to promote sustainability through its numerous wind turbines, energy efficiency programs and other innovative projects.